Envelope moistening device



. Sept-"'1, 1936- k. GOMMEL ETAL I 2,052,320

ENVELOPE MOISTENING DEVICE Filed NOV. 27, 1934 Patented Sept. 1, 1936EYES F'EEN'E' FEQE ENVELOPE MOHSTENING DEVICE many Application November27, 1934, Serial No. 755,040 In Germany December 7, 1933 8 Claims.

This invention relates to envelope moistening devices and moreparticularly to the type of moistening devices consisting in general ofa water tank, a moistener, and a guide plate for guiding the envelopeacross the moistener.

One object of the invention, among others, is to provide a. simplemoistening device of high efiiiciency and adapted to moisten the fiap ofthe envelope in a ready and easy manner simply by moving the envelopealong the guide plate in one direction with the flap in normal position.

One form of a moistening device embodying the invention is illustratedin the drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a moistening device constructed in accordancewith this invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view with a portion of the guide plate broken away andthe cover plate removed from the water tank.

The various novel features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and will be particularly pointed out in theappended claims. It will be obvious, of course, that various changes maybe made in the details of the moistening device illustrated in thedrawing without departing from the real invention as defined in theclaims.

In the embodiment illustrated, the moistening device comprises a watertank l which may be of any appropriate form and character, a moistener2, and a guide plate 3 over which the envelope 4 is drawn across themoistener 2 with the flap 5 in normal position substantially asdiagrammatically shown in Fig. 2. The moistener 2 extendinglongitudinally of the edge 6 of the guide plate 3 is arranged at a smalldistance above the plane of the guide plate 3 so that a slot or space Iis formed between the moistener 2 and the adjacent edge 6 of the guideplate 3 causing the fiap 5 of the envelope 4 to pass automatically intothe slot 7 and downward into a space 8 between the part 9 of the guideplate 3 and the adjacent wall E0 of the Water tank I as the envelope isdrawn along the guide plate 3. On further movement of the envelope inthe same direction the flap 5 emerges from the slots 8 and l, and thegummed rim of the flap slides and rubs on the moistener 2 which formsthe upper edge of the slot '1, the flap thus being appropriatelymoistened. From this construction it will be apparent that simply bydrawing the envelope across the guide plate 3 in a direction towards themoistener 2 and with the flap in normal position, as shown in Fig. 2,the flap will be effectively and readily moistened by first engaging inthe slots 7 and 8 and then rubbing on the moistener as it emerges fromthe slots.

In the construction shown in the drawing, the moistener 2 consists of acapillary material, such 5 as a suitable fabric or the like, which isbent over a non-corrosive bar I l, the two ends 2 of the fabric dippingin the water of the water tank I. The bar i l is removably mounted inguiding flanges I5 of the tank I. In order to fill up the in tank i anopening i2 is provided in the water tank l which in operation of themoistening device is closed by a cover 13. The cover l3 also covers theupper side of the bar H and engages the mouth of the water tank l bymeans of de- 15 pending flanges 16 formed on both side edges thereof, arib I l forming a stop.

The water tank I is of such aform that the moistening device may be usedwith the guide plate 3 in horizontal position, as it is shown in thedraw- 2U ing, as well as with the guide plate in vertical position.

Guide plate 3 and water tank I may be made of any suitable material e.g. of metal or of pressed material such as a synthetic resin or a gophenol formaldehyde condensation product. Whereas in the illustratedembodiment the moistener is formed of a fabric bent over a bar, it is tobe understood that the moistener may be otherwise formed, as forinstance by a small roll 5" dipping in the moisture of the tank I, or itmay be based upon capillary action.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction anddifierent embodiments of the invention could be made without departingfrom the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guideplate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spacedrelation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate,said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support foran envelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on saidlip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having thelip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, and guide flangeson the sides of the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted.

2. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guideplate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spacedrelation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate,said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support foran envelope flap, said plate having a portion extending from the portionat said lip rearwardly and inclined at an obtuse angle, the tank havinga wall extending from the lip in close parallel relation to the inclinedportion of the guide plate to form a slot for the reception of theenvelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on saidlip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having thelip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, and guide flangeson the sides of the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted. I

3. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guideplate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spacedrelation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate,said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support foran envelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on saidlip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having thelip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, guide flanges onthe sides f the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted, said tankbeing open at the top over said lip, and means detachably mounted on thetank to close the open portion thereof and cover the major portion ofthe lip supported part of the wick.

4. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a flat lip, a guideplate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spacedrelation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate,said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support foran envelope flap, said plate having a portion extending from the portionat said lip rearwardly and inclined at an obtuse angle, the tank havinga wall extending from the lip in close parallel relation to the inclinedportion of the guide plate to form a slot for the reception of theenvelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on saidlip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, means detachablysecured to the tank to hold the wick in position on said lip, said tankbeing open at the top over said lip, and means detachably mounted on thetank to close the open portion thereof and cover the major portion ofthe lip supported part of the wick.

5. In an envelope moistener, a water tank having a fiat lip, a guideplate having a portion parallel to said lip and in closely spacedrelation thereto to form a narrow slot between the lip and guide plate,said guide plate extending forwardly from the slot to form a support foran envelope flap, said plate having a portion extending from the portionat said lip rearwardlyand inclined at an obtuse angle, the tank having awall extendingfrom the lip in close parallel relation to the inclinedportion of the guide plate to form a slot for the reception of theenvelope flap, a moisture wick having an edge portion resting on saidlip and projecting slightly above the edge of the lip, a bar having thelip supported portion of the wick doubled therearound, guide flanges onthe sides of the tank wherein said bar is removably mounted, said tankbeing open at the top over said lip, and means detachably mounted on thetank to close the open portion thereof and cover the major portion ofthe lip supported part of the wick.

6. In an envelope moistener, a horizontal guide plate, one end of saidplate being inclined downwardly, a tank carried by said downwardlyinclined portion of said plate and spaced therefrom to provide adownwardly inclined slot for the reception of an envelope flap, a lip onsaid tank overlying a portion of said horizontal part of said plate, anda wick carried by said lip and extending forwardly thereof.

'7. The structure of claim 6 and means for maintaining said wick inposition on said lip.

8. The structure of claim 6, means for maintaining said wick in positionon said lip, and said means comprising a clamping bar removably carriedby the sides of said tank.

KARL GOMMEL. PAUL GOMMEL.

